If you are having suicidal thoughts or feelings, contact 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or a qualified physician / mental health professional immediately.
I’ve always had a habit of keeping my thoughts and worries to myself with the intention of ‘not bothering’ my friends and family. I thought it would be better that way. It worked for a while but then the stresses of college life started piling up – keeping up in class, drama with friends, managing different organizational commitments, & wondering what the future would hold.
Bottling up emotions & minimally expressing my inner fears and worries ended up being more detrimental than intended. I remember some days I would just feel like the world was throwing things at me left and right with no end in sight. I felt emptier and emptier; I would often reach points where I cried myself to sleep and neglected my responsibilities because I didn’t know what to do. The effects translated to my grades and mood. I lost count of the days where I forced a smile on my face and interacted as if everything was alright even though the anxiety and hopelessness was suffocating me.
There is no shame in opening up and sharing your personal thoughts and feelings with those you love. They care about you. They want to be there for you – for all the good times and the bad. Isn’t that being human? Living, learning & growing together.
#SpeakUp
#HumansOfMannMukti
I’ve never shared my writing before but I thought it would be appropriate for this:
how else will the world see the light if your smile has disappeared
– radiance//nilam
In alignment with our mission to encourage others to #SpeakUp about mental health, we’ve created this blog – a passion project highlighting those who wish to share their stories with the world.
Open to anyone, the series features personal anecdotes from members of the South Asian community who have struggled with mental illness – and the stigma that comes along with it.
To submit your story, click here.
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MannMukti pledges to serve all South Asians, recognizing the power hierarchies in our communities, created and maintained by different identities of caste, language, geography, gender, sexuality, and religion that shape individuals’ obstacles while seeking mental liberation.
